RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE The Office of Catholic Schools gave out Catholic School Awards after a March 24 Mass. Pictured is Superintendent Dr. Samuel Torres (left) and Principal Nathan Arnold of St. Edward School, Corona, who received the Distinguished Principal Award,
Dozens of exceptional teachers, staff, volunteers and alumni were recognized at the annual Catholic Schools Awards Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Riverside, on March 24.
Following the Mass, the awards were given out by Superintendent Dr. Samuel Torres, Associate Superintendent Maribel Arguelles-Ortiz and Austin Conley, Director of Advancement for Catholic Schools. Below are all the winners.
Distinguished Volunteer
Courtney Hernandez (Aquinas High School, San Bernardino); Brianna Lozano (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Indio); Maria and Nakida Veasley (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Riverside); Blanca Farfan (Our Lady of the Assumption School, San Bernardino); Rose Solano (Resurrection Academy, Fontana); Erica Thatcher (Sacred Heart Academy, Redlands); Marque DeCourten (St. Adelaide School, Highlands); Karen Emery (St. Catherine of Alexandria School, Riverside); Jennifer and David Padilla (St. George School, Ontario); Sue Fox (St. Hyacinth Academy, San Jacinto); Christina Kavanagh (St. Jeanne de Lestonnac School, Temecula); Michelle and Colin Fernandes (St. Joseph School, Upland); Rick Ellis (St. Peter & St. Paul School, Alta Loma); and Jayson Conlon (St. Thomas the Apostle School, Riverside).
Distinguished Teacher
Armando Duenas (Aquinas High School, San Bernardino); Brigitte Zapata (Notre Dame High School, Riverside); Lazaro Meza (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Indio); Stephanie Martin (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Riverside); Jennifer Houghton (Our Lady of the Assumption School, San Bernardino); Eunice Huizar, Christine Hanna and Edward Greenwald (Sacred Heart School, Rancho Cucamonga); Carol LaFond (St. Francis de Sales School, Riverside); Carina Rugel-Borja (St. Catherine of Alexandria School, Riverside); Mira Salama (St. Edward School, Corona); Laticia Gomez (St. Hyacinth Academy, San Jacinto); Maria Garcia (St. James School, Perris); Annette Dutton (St. Jeanne de Lestonnac School, Temecula); Kristin Damon (St. Peter & St. Paul School, Alta Loma); Grace Nelson (St. Thomas the Apostle School, Riverside).
Distinguished Staff
Amber Lejay (Aquinas High School, San Bernardino); Genaro Miranda (Notre Dame High School, Riverside); Raphael Driesbach (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Indio); Bob Miechowicz (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Riverside); Barbara Reynolds (Our Lady of the Assumption School, San Bernardino); Ruby Barr (Sacred Heart Academy, Redlands); Lily Gonzales (St. Catherine of Alexandria School, Riverside); Christina Murguia and Jordan Escandon (St. George School, Ontario); Diane Veit (St. James School, Perris); Amy Vu, Jennifer Butler and Vonny Bogan (St. Jeanne de Lestonnac School, Temecula); Ednalyn Berg (St. Joseph School, Upland); Jacklyn Taylor (St. Peter and St. Paul School, Alta Loma); Elizabeth Cabrera (St. Thomas the Apostle School, Riverside).
Distinguished Alumni
Guadalupe Saldivar (Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Indio); Lauren Ruvalcaba (Our Lady of the Assumption School, San Bernardino); Landon Bonadiman (Sacred Heart School, Rancho Cucamonga); Marcia Y. Railton (St. Francis de Sales School, Riverside.
Distinguished Principal
Nathan Arnold (St. Edward School, Corona)
People’s Choice
This award was for a Spoken Word Art Contest among students at the Diocese’s Catholic Schools. The winner was Jeremy Efuetngu, student at Sacred Heart School, Rancho Cucamonga, for the poem “Echoes From the Earth.”
Seton Hope
This award honors individuals who have made exceptional financial contributions to Catholic School education in the Diocese. The winner was Dick Riddell, a generous donor to Aquinas High School, San Bernardino.
Distinguished Leader
This award is for a “person of the diocesan staff who has touched the lives of children, their parents and teachers of every school, preaching Gospel values and giving hope.” The winner was Maribel Arguelles, Associate Superintendent of the Office of Catholic Schools.
Good Shepherd
This award is for an outstanding member of the clergy who “speaks truth, models courage and challenges our Catholic School leaders to live the diocesan vision within Catholic Education embracing hospitality, collaboration, faith sharing and reconciliation.” The winner was Father Anthony Dao, Pastor at St. Catherine of Alexandria, Temecula and Vicar Forane for the Hemet Vicariate.
Friend of Children
This award is for an individual who “has touched the lives of children in various schools and parishes beyond the realm of ministry.” The winner was Ann Marie Gallant, Director of the Office of Emergency Operations Collaborative.
Partnership Award
This award is for an organization which has “exhibited extraordinary support to our Diocese, benefiting many of our schools.” The winner was Andrew Zuniga and Riverside University Health System.